Updates from East Homes

Lifts at Block 91-141 Mercer Court: East Thames, Bellways and Stannah Lifts are monitoring the performance of this lift. We have received the consultants report and are currently going through his findings. We hope to update residents shortly about these findings and set out our future plan for the lift. The lift however is back in service and working.   

Johnson Lock Court - Roller Shutter Gate: Our contractors have identified that the roller shutter control box has become faulty due to water being found in the box. It was then identified that there is a leak emanating from the walls which will require addressing by East Thames. Our electricians will order a new control box however we will need to repair the source of the leak first. Our maintenance team will be raising a job to resolve the matter.  

Firewatch Court/Horseley Court Main Swing Gate: We have identified an issue with the stoppers on this gate. Our contractors have been instructed to resolve the matter, (parts are on order). We apologise for any inconvenience this is causing residents we hope to resolve the matter soon.  

Mercer Court-Scaffolding placed adjacent to Block 91- 141 Mercer Court: Bellways Homes are currently carrying out latent defects works to the roof tiling, unfortunately the works has been delayed. Residents should still park on Candle Street until further notice.  

Security Service: Enigma Security have been instructed by East Thames to continue with their service until further notice. You may re-call that East Thames initially agreed to funding the security until the end of September 2012. This is a discretionary decision taken by The Neighbourhood Management Department. We can confirm that Security will run 3 days per week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday (Patrol time: 2.30pm - 1.30am).          

Mercer Court Sliding Gate Pilot: We informed residents earlier this year that we would trial a new gate at Mercer Court and if the gate operated successfully we would look to place orders for further gates to be installed at Johnson/Tramway Court & Coalstore/Gray Court. The gate trial was set initially for three months until the end of September 2012. This period was initially set to allow an assessment of it's fitness for purpose. The gate pilot has since been extended by a further two months, as it was felt that the 3 months was not an adequate period to assess this gate properly. We have asked Inova Gates to make further improvements on the Mercer Court Gate following an independent assessment by a Health & Safety consultant. We hope that no further extension will be required after the end of November. An assessment of the gates will be made at the end of November as to their suitability and a decision will be made as to whether they will be retained and similar gates installed elsewhere across the development.

Gates/Shutters Update

Shared Swing Gate at Firewatch Court & Horseley Court - Gate has now been repaired and turned on by East Thames.  

Firewatch Court Roller Shutter - New control panel fitted and switch repaired. The shutter has been left on and working.  
     
Horseley Court Roller Shutter - New control panel fitted. The shutter has been left on and working.  
  
Coalstore Court Roller Shutter -  New control panel fitted and tested on 06/09/12. However there appears to be a fault with the transmitter control which belongs to NACD. East Thames will report issue to NACD and instruct them to complete the repair.     
         
Johnson Lock Court Roller Shutter - Contractors has attended and identified issue with the old control box. New control box will be ordered for Johnson Lock Court. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause residents. We hope to have this shutter repaired as soon as the part is with our contractor.

If residents experience any problems accessing the car parks, they should check to see whether their fob key is working by changing their batteries or call NACD to check if there are any software issues. NACD can be contacted on 01442 211 848. If there are any problems with the gate please call East Thames repairs department on 0845 600 0830.  

Do your bit to bring cheaper energy to the Borough

Tower Hamlets residents could see cheaper energy bills, thanks to T.H.E. Community Power, a new co-operative launched by Mayor Lutfur Rahman this summer. By buying energy in bulk, T.H.E. Community Power will give local people the chance to switch energy providers and benefit from a cheaper energy tariff. 

All residents have to do is sign up now to express their interest in switching energy provider. Registration is free and only takes five minutes to do. Once 5,000 households have expressed their interest in the scheme, T.H.E. Community Power will negotiate with energy providers to secure a cheaper deal. There will be no obligation for residents to switch and based on a similar scheme undertaken by consumer watchdog Which?, households saved about £123 a year on their energy bills. 

Mayor Lutfur Rahman said: “I would urge every resident to sign up now because Tower Hamlets Energy will deliver huge benefits for local people.

“By giving residents cheaper energy bills, the co-operative will help to ease the burden and worry of increasing living costs.”

Cllr Rabina Khan, Lead Member for Housing said: “The best thing about the scheme is that the more people that sign up, the more everyone saves. So encourage your neighbours and friends to sign up too.”

I’m really excited about the potential this scheme has to bring the community together to create a scheme for the benefit of all.”

Residents can find out more and register now in two ways:
• online at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/energy 
• by phone on 0800 5088364 (9am – 5pm on weekdays)

Paper registration forms are also available in council offices across the borough.

Once T.H.E. Community Power is established it will provide additional benefits to members, including free and impartial advice on grants, insulation, fuel debt, and energy efficiency schemes available to help residents keep their bills down.